Hull 4 Heroes was established in 2016 by our CEO Paul Matson after he realised that like himself, too many members of the Armed Forces community were leaving service and struggling to find support, connection, and stability in civilian life. What began as a small, community-driven initiative has grown over more than seven years into a trusted local charity supporting hundreds of veterans and families each year.
Rooted in Hull’s strong military heritage, the charity has evolved alongside the needs of the Armed Forces community. Early work focused on informal peer support and housing repair, which quickly highlighted wider challenges around mental health, isolation, housing insecurity, and employability. In response, Hull 4 Heroes steadily expanded its offer, developing structured wellbeing programmes, employability partnerships, and practical support services.
Over time, the charity has built strong relationships with local authorities, prisons, universities, employers, and both local and national Armed Forces charities.
Today, Hull 4 Heroes remains firmly community-led and veteran-focused, continuing to adapt its services to meet emerging needs while staying true to its founding purpose: supporting members of the Armed Forces community to rebuild confidence, purpose, and connection after service.
Hull 4 Heroes supports serving personnel, veterans, and their families by providing practical help, peer-led wellbeing support, and community-based services that respond to the real challenges faced during and after military service. Our work focuses particularly on veterans transitioning to civilian life, those experiencing social isolation, poor mental health, financial hardship, housing insecurity, or loss of purpose after service.
We deliver a wide range of accessible, trauma-informed support across Hull and surrounding areas, alongside online provision for those unable to attend in person. This includes peer support groups, welfare calls, drop-in sessions, coffee mornings, and structured wellbeing activities such as fitness sessions, creative workshops, guitar lessons, yoga, and family activities. We also provide targeted support for older veterans, female veterans, and those within the criminal justice system.
Alongside wellbeing support, Hull 4 Heroes operates a community shop and food pantry, offering essential household goods, furniture, clothing, and food to veterans and their families during times of need. We also work in partnership with universities, employers, and local organisations to deliver employability and career transition programmes that help veterans and their families build confidence, skills, and sustainable futures.
At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to reducing isolation, improving mental health, and ensuring that no member of the Armed Forces community in Hull and the surrounding region is left to cope alone.
What makes us proud is seeing the real difference our work makes in the lives of veterans, serving personnel, and their families. Every day, we witness people rediscovering connection, confidence, and purpose after leaving the Armed Forces—whether it’s a veteran attending a peer support group for the first time, an older veteran improving their wellbeing through fitness sessions, or a family receiving essential support from our community shop and food pantry.
We’re also proud of the way Hull 4 Heroes brings the community together. Our peer-led, veteran-focused approach ensures that people are supported by those who truly understand the unique challenges of military life. Beyond individual outcomes, it’s the ripple effect—stronger families, reduced isolation, and a more resilient Armed Forces community—that gives us the greatest sense of achievement.
Ultimately, it’s knowing that every initiative, programme, or friendly phone call contributes to a network of care where no one has to face life’s challenges alone. That tangible impact is what keeps our team inspired and motivated every day.
Being a member of Cobseo connects Hull 4 Heroes to a national network of Armed Forces charities, enabling us to share best practice, access guidance, and collaborate on initiatives that improve outcomes for veterans and their families. It strengthens our credibility and visibility within the sector, helping us build partnerships with local authorities, service providers, and other veteran-focused organisations.
Membership also gives us a platform to influence policy and funding discussions, ensuring that the voices of smaller, community-led charities like ours are heard. Ultimately, COBSEO membership enhances our ability to deliver targeted, high-quality support across Hull and beyond, while keeping us informed of emerging trends, needs, and opportunities within the Armed Forces community.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here